Tooth Replacement
Crown
Crowns (sometimes referred to as caps) are used to cover teeth that have been weakened by
decay around fillings or that are severely damaged, decayed, chipped, discolored, or
misalign. Crowns are usually required after a root canal treatment. The most common
materials used for crowns are porcelain and gold.
It usually takes two visits to complete this procedure. first the dentist removes the
decay and shapes the tooth into a base for a crown. An impression is made and sent to the
laboratory where the crown is made. The tooth is protected by a temporary crown. On the
return visit, the temporary crown is replaced with the new permanent one which is cemented
to the tooth.
Bridge
Bridge is a restoration which replaces one or more teeth. There are two types of
bridges-fixed and removable. Fixed bridges are bonded into place using adjoining teeth as
a support. Removable bridges can be removed for cleaning, but they are less desirable than
fixed bridges and less stable.
There are many reasons why bridges should be consider to replace missing teeth.
When a tooth is lost, the nearby teeth may tilt toward the empty space, or the teeth in
the opposite jaw may move up or down toward the space. This places unusual stress on both
the teeth and tissues in your mouth. A bridge helps maintain the natural shape of your
face and may help support your lips and cheeks. Missing teeth can also affect the way you
chew and speak. Materials used are metals or combination of porcelain and metal.
DENTURES
Dentures are removable prosthetic devices designed to replace missing teeth. They can
either replace a few missing teeth (partial dentures) or a complete set of missing teeth
(full dentures):
Full Dentures:
This type of prosthesis is for individuals missing a complete set of teeth in the upper,
lower or both jaws. It is generally acrylic in composition, and removable. Dentures that
fit properly can improve your appearance, eating and speaking. The denture must be cleaned
2-3 times daily, both on the inside and the outside. Once the denture is made some
adjustments are inevitable before the denture has a perfect fit.
Partial Dentures:
Sometimes referred to as removable bridges, this type of restoration is used to replace
one or more missing teeth.. Partial dentures consist of a metal skeleton with an acrylic
base covering the metal and containing the teeth. They generally will have a few clasps to
hold the denture in place. A cosmetic alternative is a partial denture with precision
attachments instead of the clasps. Wearing a partial denture can help your remaining teeth
stay in position. When there are spaces between natural teeth, the teeth may drift or tip,
placing unnatural stress on the tissues of the mouth. With your missing teeth replaced,
chewing is easier and more comfortable. Replacing missing teeth with partial denture
will also improve your speech, and appearance.
Immediate Dentures
In some instances dentist may decide to prefabricate denture prior to extracting the
teeth. The obvious advantage is that patient can wear this denture immediately after the
surgery. This type of a restoration is not a permanent one and can only be used for
a limited time.
|
